Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1887-09-03
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 20, i

WASHINGTON, Aug. 20, 1887.
When President Cleveland was
inaugurated, the old Bourbon ele-
ment of this District came solidly to
the front. They had contributed
literally to the campaign fund and
anticipated prompt recognition OF
their services. They had been in
the social and political background,
10, many, many years, and now that
change had come, every old fossil
that had a political existence previ,
GUS to the Republican regime, heard
the resurrection trump and came
forth demanding and expecting a
good fat Office. A more greedy, ra-
venous and shameful rush for place
was never witnessed. Delegations
and deputations in the interest OF
the numerous aspirants besieged the
White House day and night and ex-
pectations we're at high water mark.
Two and half years of the admin
istration have passed away and
what is the local result? Only three
of the many respectable posi-
tions belonging to the District are
filed by "home talent ~ A more
disappointed crowd cannot be found
anywhere. and the air is thick with
the maledictions they heap upon
Cleveland and his Administration.
Democracy here means patronage,
pure and simple, and nothing else,
and talk of Cleveland's renomina-
ton receives a most chilling re-
Spouse. OF course the Republicans
sympathize with their discontinue
and office will appease their anger,
and as the months roll on and the
days Of grace shorten, the violence
of indignation increases. The dele
gates from this District in the next
Democratic National Convention
will not be Cleveland men. Mark
that.
The recent Republican State Con-
ventions of Ohio, Pennsylvania, Iowa,
Maryland, have caused the Admins.
tration to scratch it's head and roll
it's eyes in wonder at the remarkable
clear, concise and truthful manner
in which the aforesaid Administra-
ton is arraigned before the public.
They see the handwriting on the
wall, and it requires no extraordina-
ry Daniel to give correct interpre-
tatioD. They had been nursing the
delusion that there were some old
animosities lurking in the Republi-
can ranks that would show them
selves in a marked degree when
State Conventions presumed to in
dictate Presidential choice, and anti.
cipated and predicted more or less
rupture. The harmony which has
characterized these conventions,
the good spirit which pervades the
entire party, and the determination
evinced to redeem the country from
the hands of shams and pretenders,
is little more pointed than they
expected. They dread the expose
of their shameful abnse OF civil ser
vice: their bungling, imbecile man
agement of the finances: their
cowardly foreign policy; their cruel
treatment of the cOuntry's defend
lers; vascilating management of the
public domain; and their utter and
hopeless failure to inaugurate a sin
gle measure for the relief or ad.
vancement Of the people. There is
not single thing in this admins
tration thus far, that can be point
ed to with any degree of American
lpride or party satisfaction.
| The program is pretty we'll COM
pleted for Cleveland'S electiOneer.
ling trip, and soon he will be "swing-
ing round the circle on public ex-
hibition. This game was played by
Andy johnson, when there was
some plausible excuse for it on the
ground of the exciting and unset.
tied condition of affairs at the close
the ofwar. But 1t proved most ig-
nominious failure. 1t was tried
again by President Hayes, who, you
remember, became prominent at.
: traction at various country agricul
tural fairs. There is no record that
procedure contributed very mater
. tally to his popularity. The manag-
ers Of the coming exhibition intend
ed to thrust Cleveland onto the var.
ious Grand Army reunions this
fall, and thus atone for his numer
GUS pension voices and unmistak.
able sympathy for the rebel leaders,
, but, whether wisely or unwisely,
, that child was strangled at the St
! Louis affair, and hence change OF
] program and the working up mum.
. icipal invitations. l know of nc
Republican who objects to this ar.
, rangement, and as simple party
I expedient rejoice that the Democra
J cy are still maintaining their record
of stupid laundering.
, Quite large number of changes
will take place in the Interior and
Treasury Departments on the first
of September and the month follow.
ing. A good many of the old clerks
against whom not complaint can
be made except that they are Re.
publicans, have been asked to re.
sign and have already taken the
hint and put in their letters, while
others will be dismissed outright on
the ground of the necessity of reduc.
ing the force. All this is a pretense
and show, and only designed to
make place for new and partisan APP.
, pOintments. Mr.. Cleveland is com.
PEELED to yield to the enormous pres.
sure for Office, and there is abund
| ant reason for supposing a complete
surrender now to the ravenous greed
of party.